Summer day, Wartsila_Tall_Ships_Races_2013.pdf

More than a hundred ships of different types and sizes took part in the Tall ships Races Helsinki 2013. Ship Power and Services organized a summer day for their customers and partner companies. Almost a 100 people enlisted to join the fun despite the event being at the heart of the Finnish holiday season. The day was organized onboard Schooner Helena, which belongs to Sail Training Association Finland (STAF). STAF is a non-profit charity, founded in 1973 to organize sail training voyages, especially for the young. Since 1983, STAF has arranged sail training voyages for young people on a regular basis. W?rtsil? has been a proud supporter of STAF since 2012. The flagship Schooner Helena was launched in 1992. By 2011 over 19 250 trainees have taken part on a sail training voyage and STAF’s sail training vessels have crossed the Atlantic Ocean 57 times. The vessels have travelled more nautical miles that what it takes to go around the globe for more than 25 times. Customers brought their families to enjoy the day – and strawberries. All of STAF’s voyages are sail training voyages. In addition to the basics of sailing and seafaring, the trainees learn team work, how to take others into account, and the ability to take responsibility in circumstances that can be uncomfortable. The primary attention is not in learning how to sail, but learning by sailing. Comment from one of the hosts: “The atmosphere was very relaxed and conversations more about the Tall Ships Races and the Sail Training Association than anything directly work related. It’s great to have a chance to meet customers without a strict agenda. We’ll have plenty of chances to talk business after the holidays.”